US Open: Ashleigh Barty gives up because of the coronavirus

Australian world number 1 Ashleigh Barty announced her withdrawal from the US Open on Thursday, citing the "significant risks" associated with the coronavirus, a serious setback for the New York tournament which is due to start on August 31. The Roland Garros winner is the biggest name in women's tennis to withdraw from this Grand Slam, a decision announced as the United States passed the threshold of 150,000 deaths linked to the coronavirus. “My team and I have decided that we will not be going to the Western and Southern Open and the US Open this year,” she said in a statement.

The Western and Southern Open, which is normally held in Cincinnati, has been moved to New York City due to the pandemic. “I love both events, which made it a difficult decision but there are still significant risks associated with Covid-19 and I don't feel comfortable placing ourselves, my team and I, in this situation. I wish the United States Tennis Federation the best for these tournaments and look forward to returning to the United States next year. ” New York and its surroundings were however able to contain at a low level the cases of contamination, after the outbreak of March-April, while Florida, Texas and California are among the most affected areas. The most bereaved country in the world by the pandemic, the United States has 4.4 million confirmed cases.

For Roland Garros, decision pending

The announcement of the 24-year-old comes as no surprise. At the beginning of June, she had left doubts about her participation in the US Open. And on social networks, many Internet users were sympathetic about this decision. Barty added that she would continue to monitor the outbreak situation before deciding whether she will travel to Europe to defend her title at Roland Garros, which starts on September 27. “I will be making my decision about the French Open and European WTA Tour tournaments in the coming weeks,” she said. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and his runner-up Rafael Nadal, as well as Serena Williams in the ladies, are among the entries for the Western and Southern Open, from August 20 to 28 in New York, the organizers announced on Wednesday. These WTA and ATP tournaments will be played without spectators on the courts of Flushing Meadows where the US Open is due to start on August 31 under identical conditions.

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